Former Ghana defender Jerry Akaminko has leapt to the defense of teammate John Boye following the controversy during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
John Boye was heavily criticized by Ghanaians after he was captured on camera kissing a bundle of cash reported to be $100,000. This transpired after the Black Stars received payment of the their unpaid appearance fee.
The players had earlier threatened to boycott the competition ahead of the team’s final game against Portugal.
“Well, I think he wasn’t wrong. You people (football fanatics) the way you understand things are different from we that we are in the game,” Akaminko told Citi Sports.
“We might not think the same, so it doesn’t mean you’re wrong, it doesn’t mean you’re right.
“Because for somebody to have worked that hard and not get his money and got his money at the time was a different feeling.
“I’m sure he intentionally did that for the camera. Maybe I could do the same thing in my room or whatever and camera could catch me. That doesn’t make me a bad sports person or anything”, he added.
“John Boye has seen 100,000 before, maybe more. Why did the money stay too long before getting to them?
“Why would they travel without money to place while they could have gotten their money without anybody seeing John Boye kissing their money.”
Ghana were knocked out of the tournament after losing 2-1 in their final group game against Portugal, with John Boye scoring an own goal. The Black Stars had already lost their first game to USA and drawn the second to eventual World Cup winners Germany.